"In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes". So said Andy Warhol. And it's becoming true before our eyes- Big Brother, X Factor, Apprentice (I like that one!), House Swap, Stars in their eyes, Fat Club, thin club, slim club, cook club, Beenthereseenitdoneit club... Fame for everyone. A fleeting glance at celebrity. But it is so fleeting. I remember who won the first Pop Idol and even who came second and third (shame on me), but who was it who came fourth, fifth etc? Fame for a moment. Not really fame at all.
The Bible tells us God has a design for our lives, planned before we were born. In fact before the world was made. (Check it out: Ephesians 1: 11). We read that God has planned our days, written them down (Psalm 139: 16). Finding out why I'm here gives the best purpose of all. The fact that God thinks I'm 'famous' is better than Any Warhol's 15 minutes could ever be.
Tuesday, 31 July 2007
Thursday, 19 July 2007
Mountain Climbing Quotes
Here's a couple of excellent mountain climbing quotes:
'Youth is not a period of time. It is a state of mind, a result of the will, a quality of the imagination, a victory of courage over timidity, of the taste for adventure over the love of comfort. A man doesn't grow old because he has lived a certain number of years. A man grows old when he deserts his ideal. The years may wrinkle his skin, but deserting his ideal wrinkles his soul. Preoccupations, fears, doubts, and despair are the enemies which slowly bow us toward earth and turn us into dust before death. You will remain young as long as you are open to what is beautiful, good, and great; receptive to the message of other men and women, of nature and of God.'
General Douglas MacArthur
'Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It is courage that counts.'
Sir Winston Churchill
'Youth is not a period of time. It is a state of mind, a result of the will, a quality of the imagination, a victory of courage over timidity, of the taste for adventure over the love of comfort. A man doesn't grow old because he has lived a certain number of years. A man grows old when he deserts his ideal. The years may wrinkle his skin, but deserting his ideal wrinkles his soul. Preoccupations, fears, doubts, and despair are the enemies which slowly bow us toward earth and turn us into dust before death. You will remain young as long as you are open to what is beautiful, good, and great; receptive to the message of other men and women, of nature and of God.'
General Douglas MacArthur
'Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It is courage that counts.'
Sir Winston Churchill
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
Lois in Japan and other stories....
I've just met our younger daughter Lois. Or at least a Japanese version.
Having had a week and a half of Dim Sum and Tofu, I decided a real meal was needed and called in at the Tokyo branch of TGI Fridays. (I know, it's a soft choice- just think how naff it will look on my expenses!). And there at the door was Lois Japanese style. She looked the same in a Japanese kind of way. Dangling earrings, wavy arms, big smile, bouncing steps. I was sort of shown to my place and sort of gave an order. Others in the restaurant then did the work while Lois v2 hung around the door, chatting away, being incredibly charming and doing little or no actual work. If ever TGI Fridays opens in Peterborough, our daughter is guaranteed a job!
Funny thing is, Lois actually has been to Japan, on a school exchange trip a couple of years ago. Maybe she gave some lessons....
Went on to find the best jacket ever. It was a denim but so light to the touch, with a wonderful lining and looked fantastic. It was from Paris and was retailing at around £600 original Yen price. It was reduced to £200. And allowing for the strength of the pound right now, the original price was nearer £700. I was spared the agony of purchase, thank goodness; it was too small! Close call that one- nearly spent some real money on clothes. Bought a lightweight shirt for £2 instead and felt much better after the fright.
The Japanese are soooo organised. If you get a train ticket with a reserved seat, you WILL sit in that place. There is no argument about it. That's what you do. You are organised. And if you are not organised, someone organises you. It's actually a great country character trait- though a part of me just wants to sit in the wrong seat for the sake of it! Life would be a bit boring without a bit of disorganisation....
Having had a week and a half of Dim Sum and Tofu, I decided a real meal was needed and called in at the Tokyo branch of TGI Fridays. (I know, it's a soft choice- just think how naff it will look on my expenses!). And there at the door was Lois Japanese style. She looked the same in a Japanese kind of way. Dangling earrings, wavy arms, big smile, bouncing steps. I was sort of shown to my place and sort of gave an order. Others in the restaurant then did the work while Lois v2 hung around the door, chatting away, being incredibly charming and doing little or no actual work. If ever TGI Fridays opens in Peterborough, our daughter is guaranteed a job!
Funny thing is, Lois actually has been to Japan, on a school exchange trip a couple of years ago. Maybe she gave some lessons....
Went on to find the best jacket ever. It was a denim but so light to the touch, with a wonderful lining and looked fantastic. It was from Paris and was retailing at around £600 original Yen price. It was reduced to £200. And allowing for the strength of the pound right now, the original price was nearer £700. I was spared the agony of purchase, thank goodness; it was too small! Close call that one- nearly spent some real money on clothes. Bought a lightweight shirt for £2 instead and felt much better after the fright.
The Japanese are soooo organised. If you get a train ticket with a reserved seat, you WILL sit in that place. There is no argument about it. That's what you do. You are organised. And if you are not organised, someone organises you. It's actually a great country character trait- though a part of me just wants to sit in the wrong seat for the sake of it! Life would be a bit boring without a bit of disorganisation....
Friday, 6 July 2007
Bryson and Shanghai
I enjoy reading. In fact I get through quite a few books in an average year, with usually 3 or 4 on the go at the same time. A lot of them are Christian books, in hope of understanding at least something more of the amazing God who created me. There are a few novels as well. And I've just started reading my first Bill Bryson book- 'Notes from a small island.' I know- I'm a bit late in getting to Bryson. He's been around for years. But I've only just discovered him- and may not have done that had not Roh (or was it the twins?) bought it for my birthday.
Bryson can be a bit rude, but oh so funny. I found I was laughing out loud, which was rather embarrasing as I was on a flight to Shanghai at the time. Never mind, the guy next to me probably won't see me again. Probably wont want to!
Here's a classic bit of Bryson on age: 'I used to think sex was something more than a welcome chance for a lie down'. Trouble is, I'm not sure I'm laughing at the joke or laughing with the joke! And his chapter on travelling through Oxford is just hilarious. Anyway, I'm now in a hotel in Shanghai. I hope the walls screen out the laughter....
Interesting: Shanghai is so big and new. Hardly an old building in sight. The airport has only been open 7 years and already they are building more terminals and runways.
Dissapointing: Singapore Airlines is a good carrier but have gone a bit far with advertising. I enjoy looking at the air map as we travel, to see what countries and cities we are going over. But Singapore Air have taken to inserting adverts every few minutes for worthy institutions like HSBC. I'm sure they are getting paid well for it, but it's an advertising intrusion too far. Maybe they break in to their films in the same way?!
Bryson can be a bit rude, but oh so funny. I found I was laughing out loud, which was rather embarrasing as I was on a flight to Shanghai at the time. Never mind, the guy next to me probably won't see me again. Probably wont want to!
Here's a classic bit of Bryson on age: 'I used to think sex was something more than a welcome chance for a lie down'. Trouble is, I'm not sure I'm laughing at the joke or laughing with the joke! And his chapter on travelling through Oxford is just hilarious. Anyway, I'm now in a hotel in Shanghai. I hope the walls screen out the laughter....
Interesting: Shanghai is so big and new. Hardly an old building in sight. The airport has only been open 7 years and already they are building more terminals and runways.
Dissapointing: Singapore Airlines is a good carrier but have gone a bit far with advertising. I enjoy looking at the air map as we travel, to see what countries and cities we are going over. But Singapore Air have taken to inserting adverts every few minutes for worthy institutions like HSBC. I'm sure they are getting paid well for it, but it's an advertising intrusion too far. Maybe they break in to their films in the same way?!
Tuesday, 3 July 2007
The night before the day
Ever stayed up, knowing the next day that something significant is going to happen? That's me right now. Tomorrow I fly out to the Far East for 2 weeks. I've been to Singapore before but my trips to Shanghai and Tokyo will be new territory. It's business of course, so mainly flights and hotels, but I hope to see a bit of the cities.
So it's the night before being away for 2 weeks. Roh and the twins have gone to bed, but I don't feel tired. Never do when there's a big adventure the next day.
But why not live like that every day? Why not get excited about tomorrow, whatever it may bring? Even on a Monday! We only have one life- let's enjoy it day by day.
So it's the night before being away for 2 weeks. Roh and the twins have gone to bed, but I don't feel tired. Never do when there's a big adventure the next day.
But why not live like that every day? Why not get excited about tomorrow, whatever it may bring? Even on a Monday! We only have one life- let's enjoy it day by day.
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